1st crime complaint in Japan

A criminal complaint about a Takata air bag causing injuries in a crash has been filed in Japan, the first such case in this nation related to an unfolding massive recall.

Takata Corp. said Wednesday it was fully cooperating with the investigation of the accident, in which a woman in the front passenger seat of a Nissan X-Trail sport-utility vehicle was injured.

The vehicle crashed into a truck on a freeway in October and the air bag burst improperly, although the one for the driver's seat worked properly, according to Nissan Motor Co., which also said it is cooperating with the investigation.

The woman sitting on the passenger side of the 2006 model X-Trail was injured in the face, the left arm and right hand, Nissan said.

The model involved in the crash was part of a recall announced in May last year. The vehicle had been brought in, but no parts were replaced after a check to see if the inflator was airtight, which at the time Nissan thought meant it was safe.

After the accident, Nissan decided to replace all inflators, regardless of whether they are airtight. If a replacement part isn't ready, the passenger side air bag will be turned off, the company said in a statement.

Japan's Kyodo News service reported, citing anonymous investigative sources, that police are looking into the complaint, filed May 30, on suspicion of professional negligence resulting in injury. Shizuoka police declined comment.